Category: energy efficiency

Illuminating thoughts on energy efficiency

It is encouraging when you read a positive article on where Europe is going in energy efficiency policy.  Philip Lee, founder and managing partner of Philip Lee solicitors, writing in the Irish Independent, looks at how energy efficiency is effectively leading a revolution – creating jobs, addressing climate change and energy security, and much more. … Continue reading Illuminating thoughts on energy efficiency →

Let there be light – but let it be efficient

I haven’t done any counting, but I believe I have more actual lightbulbs than I had 15 years ago but reports show I’m using less electricity for them.  Guy Chazan writes in the Financial Times about the significant decrease in electricity used for lighting in British homes since 1997.  A friend of EiD, Brenda Boardman, … Continue reading Let there be light – but let it be efficient →

Discussion paper on developing measurement methods for EU Ecodesign and Energy Labelling measures

This week CLASP, the international not-for-profit organisation that globally promotes energy efficiency standards and labels (S&L) for appliances, lighting, and equipment has just published a discussion paper on standardisation, Ecodesign and Energy Labelling policy in Europe. Developing standards to measure the energy performance of products is fundamental to delivering the energy saving potential from setting … Continue reading Discussion paper on developing measurement methods for EU Ecodesign and Energy Labelling measures →

Exploring the dynamics of the 21st century energy industry

Sometimes we complain that the low carbon transition is not happening fast enough.  This week I was in Brussels and many people I met were worried that we may be going to fast and that the repercussions on our electricity system may lead to fewer long-term investments for both generation and transmission. And there are … Continue reading Exploring the dynamics of the 21st century energy industry →

Reaping the benefits of energy efficiency

Barbara Vergetis Lundin writes a good article in Fierce Energy about the economic rewards from energy efficiency investments in US programmes.  It will be good to see whether other studies are finding similar results in Europe and abroad.   Energy efficiency investments reap three times the economic rewards The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) has … Continue reading Reaping the benefits of energy efficiency →

Commission’s 2030 energy efficiency strategy under attack

Energy efficiency is considered one of the pillars of energy and climate policy but it is far from obvious when there are binding targets for GHG emissions and renewable energy but not for energy efficiency.  That was the case for 2020 targets and remains the case, from the European Commission’s recent proposal, for 2030 targets.  … Continue reading Commission’s 2030 energy efficiency strategy under attack →

Brief notes

There are several short briefs that should be of interest. • Jan Rosenow and Nicholas Howarth have published a new academic report on banning the incandescent lightbulb in Germany. Much academic attention has been directed at analysing energy efficiency investments through the lens of ‘behavioural failure’. These studies have challenged the neoclassical framing of regulation … Continue reading Brief notes →

Showing urban leadership – part 2

Continuing on an urban theme, there was a recent survey of 300 cities on energy efficiency and technologies that provides very interesting evidence on investments in energy-efficient technologies.  This article comes from the Buildings.com website. Separately, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has a new role as U.N. envoy on cities and climate change. … Continue reading Showing urban leadership – part 2 →

Showing urban leadership – part 1

Many US cities are working very closely together to increase the energy performance of large buildings.  Sarah Kollmorgen writes on Northwestern University’s Madill Reports website about the City Energy Project that includes Chicago from where she is writing from.   10 cities, one energy-efficient goal Chicago is one of 10 cities that have joined the … Continue reading Showing urban leadership – part 1 →